Cushioned underframe for railway cars

ABSTRACT

A cushioned underframe includes a stationary sill having a sliding sill supported therein. A cushion device is supported within the sliding sill and is anchored to a carrier and cover plate connected to the underneath side of the stationary sill. Integral sill lugs on the sliding sill are disposed between a spring retainer plate and a stationary plate connected to a tension strap on the cushion which during reciprocation of the sliding sill provides for operation of the cushion. The carrier and cover plate and the cushioning unit mounted thereon may be installed and removed as a unit with the cover and carrier plate.

United States Patent 1 3,789,999

Tamborski 1 Feb. 5, 1974 CUSHIONED UNDERFRAME FOR RAILWAY CARS 75 Inventor: Robert s. Tamborski, Griffith, Ind.

[ 73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 298,181

52 us. Cl. 213/8 [51] Int. Cl. B6lg 9/08 [58] Field of Search 213/8, 43

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,330,706 9/1943 l-lankins et a1 213/8 3,028,019 4/1962 Settles et al. 213/43 3,216,591 11/1965 Peterson 213/43 3,534,661 10/1970 Hettlinger 213/8 Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman Attorney, Agent, or Firml-li1mond O. Vogel 7 ABSTRACT A cushioned underframe includes a stationary sill having a sliding sill supported therein. A cushion device is supported within the sliding sill and is anchored to a carrier and cover plate connected to the underneath side of the stationary sill. Integral sill lugs on the sliding sill are disposed between a spring retainer plate and a stationary plate connected to a tension strap on the cushion which during reciprocation of the sliding sill provides for operation of the cushion. The carrier and cover plate and the cushioning unit mounted thereon may be installed and removed as a unit with the cover and carrier plate.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBFEB 51914 SHEET 1 OF 2 EWQQQQQQQQ @QQQQQQQQQQQQQ mm ow I2 I H/ I I 24 WEI 2 A ii 2 OF I W I I "I! J will 1 m x I v P In I3 IO- 24 I ml I 'h 1 7m I l-6'3 I I! X I Q ll 1 I 32 12-- im ,L, Fm I ly 25 44 VFW PEI g1 20 I a LEIJII a 3'3 4? I H B "l V I2 I 32 I 1 CUSHIONED UNDERFRAME FOR RAILWAY CARS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to cushioned underframes and particularly to those of the sliding sill type for cushioning impacts encountered in the operation of railway cars.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,028,019,

Apr. 3, 1962, us. Pat. No. 2,330,706, Sept. 28, 1943 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,591, Nov. 9, 1965. As indicated in the aforementioned patents, the prior art recognizes the difficulties of installing a cushion in the cushion pocket of an underframe. The conventional stationary sill and sliding sill usually contain longitudinally spaced stops disposed at opposite ends of a cushion pocket, these stops being engageable with opposite 'ends of the cushion which during reciprocation of the sliding sill compress the cushion. Since the stops are spaced at a predetermined longitudinal dimension, the cushion must generally be slightly compressed against its return spring to provide for proper insertion between said stops. Likewise, when removing the cushion, the cushion again must be slightly compressed so that it can be removed. The prior art devices to accomplish this are indicated in the aforementioned patents which include devices for holding the cushion in a slightly compressed or spring tension position. Without such devices the cushion is difficult to remove and in many instances it has been necessary to destroy the return spring arrangement so that the cushion can be removed in the field. Particularly, in the field there are no provisions for compressing the cushion and the tools disclosed in the prior art are not at hand. The present cushioning arrangement overcomes this problem in that it provides a cushioning arrangement which is removed and installed with the carrier plate as an integral part and which has adjusting means whereby the cushion may be sufficiently compressed to permit ease of insertion into the cushion pocket and removal therefrom.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved cushioning arrangment which can be removed and replaced integrally with the cover or carrier plate which normally closes the underneath side of the cushion pocket. The cushioning device is integrally connected to an anchoring stop or member carried on thecover and carrier plate. The connection of the cushion to the carrier plate is by means of a spring retainer plate urged into engagement with one side of the anchoring stop and which is supported on the other end of the anchoring stop by means of a second plate connected to a tension strap, the said strap extending longitudinally and being connected to the cylinder head at the other end of the cushion. The plate includes a threaded bore within which a threaded stud or bolt is disposed. By turning the bolt the tension strap is movable longitudinally whereby the cylinder head is adjustably moved longitudinally toward the anchoring member thereby slightly compressing the spring. Thus, the cushion may be sufficiently compressed and the dimension between the retainer plate and the second plate is sufficiently lengthened or widened so that during insertion or removal of the cushioning unit and the carrier plate, the retainer plate and second plate carrying the adjustable stud are spread sufficiently far apart so that the sliding sill lugs may easily fit between them in the space provided. By then again manipulating the adjusting screw, upon installation, the spring tension can be released and the cushioning unit is ready for operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view partially in section of a cushioned underframe arrangement showing a cushion pocket with a cushioning unit installed with certain parts shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 showing the cushioning unit in a contracted position upon impact on a sliding sill;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A railway car underframe is generally designated by the reference character 10 and includes a pair of vertical stationary sill members 11 having upper and lower longitudinal flanges l2 and 13, respectively. The stationary sill is suitably connected to the body of a conventional railway car having the usual longitudinal stringers, crossbearers, etc. (not shown). Approximately centrally positioned from opposite ends of the underframe 10 is a cushion pocket 17, best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. A sliding sill 18 is disposed between the vertical stationary sill members 11 and includes vertical walls 19 and a top wall 20 forming a hat shaped configuration. Flanges 21 are connected to the lower ends of the vertical walls 19 and are slidable on wear strips 22 which are suitably supported on crossbearers or supports (not shown) and a cover plate 25 attached to the sill members 11. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the sliding sill includes fixed stops or lugs 23 suitably connected to the vertical walls 19. The vertical stationary sill members 11 are also suitably reinforced by means of vertical gussets 24 connecting flanges l2 and 13, as best shown in FIG. 3.

The cushion pocket 17 opens outwardly of the underframe 10 at the bottom thereof and is normally closed by the combined carrier and cover plate 25. The carrier and cover plate 25 has rigidly secured thereto an anchoring member 26 comprising generally an inverted hairpin shaped member 27 having vertical walls connected by a top wall 28. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, transverse walls 29 connect the walls of the hairpin shaped member 27 to provide a rigid structure. The anchoring member 26 is part of a box-like construction which includes a U-shaped plate 30 in side section, as shown in FIG. 2. As best shown in FIG. 6, the side angles 31 and cover plate 25 are removably connected to the lower flanges 13 by means of spacer strips 33 and bolt and nut connections 32.

A hydraulic cushioning device is generally referred to by the reference character 34. The cushioning device 34 forms no part of the present invention and may be of a type disclosed in the aforementioned US. Pat. No.

3,216,591 or US. Pat. No. 3,148,869, Sept. 15, 1964; US. Pat. No. 3,194,415, July 13, 1965; and US. Pat. No. 3,150,866, June 29, 1964. Cushions of this type usually include high pressure and low pressure chambers disposed on opposite sides of the piston. The low pressure chamber also communicates with a rubber boot or reservoir which retains the fluid as it passes from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber during operation of the cushion resulting from impacts on the sliding sill at opposite ends of the railway car. Thus, the present cushioning device 34 is only generally described and includes a hydraulic cylinder 35 having at one end a cylinder head 36. A piston rod 37 having a passage 38 has connected thereto a piston 39 which is reciprocal in the hydraulic cylinder in conventional fashion. On one side of the cylinder 35, as determined by the position of the piston 39, there is a high pressure chamber 40 and on the opposite side of the piston there exists a low pressure chamber 41. In the cushions above described, suitable metering orifices are provided so that there is effective constant force cushion action as the cushion is placed into a compressed condition from a neutral position. The present cushioning device 34 includes a retainer plate 42 which is connected to one end of the piston rod 37. A coil spring is disposed between the cylinder head 36 and retainer plate 42 and held captive thereby, normally tending to maintain the cushion and piston therein in a relatively neutral position, such as shown in FIG. 1.

A tension strap assembly 44 includes a top strap 45 which extends from one end of the cushion, as shown in FIG. 2, over the anchoring member 26 where it is rigidly connected to a second plate 51. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, top stop lugs 46 are rigidly connected to the strap 45 and to the cylinder head 36. As shown in FIG. 2, stop lugs 47 at the other end of the cushion are rigidly connected to the top strap 45 and also rigidly connected to the second plate 51. Lower straps 48, as best shown in FIG. 4, are connected to the cylinder head 36 and are coextensive lengthwise with the strap 45 extending outwardly from the second plate 51, as best shown in FIG. 2. A lower transverse stop strap 49, as best shown in FIG. 4, connects one end of the straps 48 and a similar strap at the other end of the cushion connects the other ends of the lower strap 48, the straps 49 and 50 also being respectively connected to the cylinder head 36 and second plate 51. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second plate 51 includes a threaded bore 52 within which a threaded stud or adjusting bolt 53 is positioned.

OPERATION The operation of the cushioning device with respect to the metering of fluid from the high pressure chamber to the low pressure chamber is the same as mentioned in the aforementioned patents. The contraction of the cushion during impact is disclosed in the drawing from the position shown in .FIG. 1, which is a neutral position to the position shown in FIG. 2, which is the contracted position as a buff impact on the left hand end of the sliding sill occurs. As shown in FIG. 2, the sill stops 23 move to the right whereupon they engage and move the plate 51 to the right, causing the tension strap assembly 44 to move the cylinder head 36 also to the right, whereupon the retainer plate 42 is held stationary against the anchoring member 26, the spring is compressed and the cushion and the piston is moved to a contracted position. After the impact has occurred, the spring 43 turns the unit to its neutral position, as best shown in FIG. 1. An impact on the right hand end of the sliding sill, of course, provides for movement of the sill lugs 23 against the retainer plate 42, compressing the springs and moving the spring to its compressed position with the plate 51 in engagement with the right hand end of the anchoring member 26.

The present invention particularly includes a construction wherein the present cushion can be installed and removed from the cushion pocket with case. As described previously, the carrier and cover plate support the cushioning unit in position since the spring retainer plate 42 and plate 51 straddle the ends of the anchoring assembly which is rigidly secured to the cover plate 25. Thus, the spring tension is sufficient to rigidly anchor the cushion so that it may be moved into the cushion pocket when the carrier and cover plate is assembled and may likewise be removed in this manner. During assembly, however, the longitudinal dimension between the retainer plate 42 and plate 51 must be at least equal or more than the overall length of the stops 23 so that the cushion may be readily inserted within the cushion pocket with the retainer plate 42 and plate 51 in snug engagement with opposite ends of the sill lugs 23. Prior to installation, therefore, the operator merely turns the adjusting screw 53 so that it engages the transverse wall 29 to which it is adjacent at one end of the anchoring member 26. By turning the screw 53 sufficiently, the plate 51 is moved to the right of the position shown in FIG. 1, in order to compress the spring and increase the distance between the plates 42 and 51 so that it is a simple matter to move the carrier plate 25 and cushion in position wherein there is ample room to accommodate the full lengths of the sill stops 23. When the cushion is within the cushion pocket of the sliding sill 17, it is a simple matter to reach in between the stationary sill members 11 and above the cover and carrier plate 25 for turning the threaded stud or screw 53 so that the plates 42 and 51 are in the position shown in FIG. 1, on opposite ends of the sill stops and the cushion is now operative.

In the event that the cushion must be replaced, it is again a simple expedient to turn the screw 53 thereby again spreading the plates 51 and 42 apart a sufficient length so that the carrier plate and cushion unit can now be dropped downwardly from the sill lugs 23.

What is claimed is:

l. A cushioned underframe for a railway car having a stationary sill including a pair of upright horizontally spaced sill walls;

a sliding sill including a top wall and laterally spaced sill walls supported on said stationary sill, said sliding sill having a cushion pocket, the improvement comprising:

a cover plate including means for removably connecting the same over said cushion pocket,

a vertically extending anchoring member connected to said cover plate having longitudinally spaced end portions,

a fluid cushioning device including a fluid cylinder having a cylinder head at one end,

a piston and piston rod reciprocally movable relatively within said cylinder,

a spring retainer plate connected to said piston rod,

a return spring assembly held captive between said retainer plate and cylinder head for urging said piston and piston rod to an extended relative neutral position relative to said cylinder,

a second plate longitudinally spaced relative to said first plate,

tie means rigidly interconnecting said cylinder head and second plate against relative longitudinal extension,

said spring retainer plate and second plate being biased in engagement with said end portions of said anchoring member by said return spring assembly whereby said cushioning unit is supported on said carrier plate,

stop means on said sliding sill in the installed position of said cover and cushion being positioned between said retainer plate and said second plate and during sliding reciprocation of said sill being alternately engageable with said retainer and second plate to move the same and move said piston and cylinder relatively from extended to retracted positions, and

adjustable means associated with one of said plates for moving one plate longitudinally relative to the other and said stop means to vary the longitudinal dimension between said plates said adjustable means providing for compression of said return spring assembly between said cylinder head and said retainer plate.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said adjustable means including an element carried by one of said plates and being movable into engagement with said anchoring member for relatively moving one of said plates.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said adjustable means including a threaded stud projecting through a threaded opening in one of said plates and engaging said anchoring member for relatively moving one of said plates.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, said threaded opening and stud being disposed on said second plate and engaging an adjacent end portion of said anchoring member.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said adjacent end portion including a vertical gusset laterally disposed between horizontally spaced walls of said anchoring member.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said adjustable means including a threaded bolt extending through a threaded bore in said second plate for engaging one end of said anchoring member whereby the longitudinal distance between said plates may be adjusted to a dimension greater than the longitudinal distance between opposite ends of said stop means whereby said installation and removal of said cushioning device is facilitated. 

1. A cushioned underframe for a railway car having a stationary sill including a pair of upright horizontally spaced sill walls; a sliding sill including a top wall and laterally spaced sill walls supported on said stationary sill, said sliding sill having a cushion pocket, the improvement comprising: a cover plate including means for removably connecting the same over said cushion pocket, a vertically extending anchoring member connected to said cover plate having longitudinally spaced end portions, a fluid cushioning device including a fluid cylinder having a cylinder head at one end, a piston and piston rod reciprocally movable relatively within said cylinder, a spring retainer plate connected to said piston rod, a return spring assembly held captive between said retainer plate and cylinder head for urging said piston and piston rod to an extended relative neutral position relative to said cylinder, a second plate longitudinally spaced relative to said first plate, tie means rigidly interconnecting said cylinder head and second plate against relative longitudinal extension, said spring retainer plate and second plate being biased in engagement with said end portions of said anchoring member by said return spring assembly whereby said cushioning unit is supported on said carrier plate, stop means on said sliding sill in the installed position of said cover and cushion being positioned between said retainer plate and said second plate and during sliding reciprocation of said sill being alternately engageable with said retainer and second plate to move the same and move said piston and cylinder relatively from extended to retracted positions, and adjustable means associated with one of said plates for moving one plate longitudinally relative to the other and said stop means to vary the longitudinal dimension between said plates said adjustable means providing for compression of said return spring assembly between said cylinder head and said retainer plate.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said adjustaBle means including an element carried by one of said plates and being movable into engagement with said anchoring member for relatively moving one of said plates.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said adjustable means including a threaded stud projecting through a threaded opening in one of said plates and engaging said anchoring member for relatively moving one of said plates.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, said threaded opening and stud being disposed on said second plate and engaging an adjacent end portion of said anchoring member.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said adjacent end portion including a vertical gusset laterally disposed between horizontally spaced walls of said anchoring member.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said adjustable means including a threaded bolt extending through a threaded bore in said second plate for engaging one end of said anchoring member whereby the longitudinal distance between said plates may be adjusted to a dimension greater than the longitudinal distance between opposite ends of said stop means whereby said installation and removal of said cushioning device is facilitated. 